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Euan Kerr
St. Paul, Minn.

Lou Bellamy remembers director, mentor Claude Purdy

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Claude Purdy
Claude Purdy, a founding member of the Penumbra Theatre in St. Paul, died last week.
Photo courtesy of Penumbra Theatre

This week people from all over the country will gather in Greenville, N.C. for the National Black Theater Festival -- and they will no doubt be swapping tales of Claude Purdy.

Purdy a founding member of the Penumbra Theatre in St. Paul, died last week at age 69.

Purdy is being hailed as a director, an actor, and a mentor to many artists, including Pulitzer-prize-winning playwright August Wilson. Purdy brought Wilson to St. Paul after convincing him to write plays instead of poetry.

Lou Bellamy, the Penumbra's artistic director, says Purdy brought many strengths to the stage.

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Claude Purdy
Claude Purdy, a founding member of the Penumbra Theatre in St. Paul, died last week.
Photo courtesy of Penumbra Theatre
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Lou Bellamy
Penumbra Theatre Artistic Director Lou Bellamy worked closely with Claude Purdy over the years. Purdy, a founding member of the Penumbra, died last week.
Photo by Ann Marsden